Korea has a long history of producing sexual artefacts, with recent archeological studies having found sex toys dating back to the Unified Silla Era (7th-10th century) and ithyphallic pictures on Bronze Age kitchenware. These coins were produced during the Joseon era, which, unlike the previous Goryo dynasty, was notable for its conservative and prude mores. This however, did not prevent its citizens from clandestinely producing pornographic material. The coins featured here were most likely minted in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were usually made of iron or copper and were not meant to be circulated. The coins could be offered to newlyweds or kept by their owners for their own personal enjoyment.

These coins were inspired by a similar Chinese tradition (秘戏钱) of minting erotic coins, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (7t-10th century AD). The exact use of the coins is not well documented, but the most popular theory is that, just as in the case of Korea, the coins were given as present to newlyweds who could learn new sexual positions from looking at them. They most likely also had the value of a "charm" ensuring fertility to its owners.